50+ Lifestyles

Sisters Share Breast Cancer Journey as Race for the Cure Honorary Survivor Chairs

Information from the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Quad Cities

Sisters share a lot. Quad-City area sisters Cheryl Prohaska and Donna Kinzer share something many do not – a breast cancer diagnosis – and the shared journey that accompanies it.

Unique to the history of the Komen Quad Cities Race for the Cure®, the two sisters will serve as honorary survivor chairs for the first time in the Race’s 28-year history.

Cheryl Prohaska, 60, of Durant, has a long history of cancer and overcoming it. She was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at the ages of 23 and 38, had two bouts with melanoma, and breast cancer diagnoses in both 2001 and 2012.

Her first breast cancer was found during a routine mammogram when she was 44 years old. She was treated with a lumpectomy, radiation and medications. She was diagnosed a second time in 2012 at the age of 55. She then had a double mastectomy and chemotherapy.

“I went places and saw kids dealing with cancer, and I thought, ‘Hey, I can do this.’ I knew if I felt sorry for myself it would be too hard on my family. I learned how to deal with it.  I wasn’t going to sit and let it defeat me,” said Prohaska.

Cheryl had great support from family and friends, and was accustomed to playing the role of ‘big sister.’ That became alittle tougher when her younger sister, Donna Kinzer, was diagnosed with breast cancer too when she was in treatment.

Donna Kinzer, age 56, of Bluegrass, was diagnosed in June of 2012.

“I was religious about going for a yearly mammogram because of Cheryl. They called and told me to come back, and I knew something was really wrong,” said Donna.

Donna underwent a lumpectomy, chemo, and radiation, taking only ½ day off work after each treatment.

Her husband, Brinson, was a huge support. “I have an amazing husband. He was there with me through every treatment. He is my best friend and he helped me through all of this,” said Donna.

Donna was determined to overcome cancer, as she didn’t want to leave her son Justin behind. “Family is everything.  People need to know they have someone to support them,” she added.

Donna works as an Advanced MSA at the VA Clinics in Bettendorf.   

Cheryl works as a para-educator for the Durant Schools, and also serves as the football cheerleading coach.  Cheryl and her husband, Dave, have two children:  Travis and his wife Michelle, and Devin and her husband David.  She has three grandchildren:  Ryker, Beckett and Raeleigh.  For the past 9 years, Cheryl has also organized a Pink Out event during football season with proceeds benefitting Komen.

The women were nominated for the honor by Donna’s husband, Brinson Kinzer. “Their passion for raising awareness and sharing their personal stories and journeys of life before, during and after treatment will be a great example for those both young and old.  I am extremely proud of my sister-in-law, Cheryl, and by wife and best friend, Donna,” said Brinson.

The 28th annual Komen Quad Cities Race for the Cure is scheduled for June 9, 2018.  Registration is now available online at www.komengreateriowa.org/qcrace.